Godsmack

Agreed. Haviland said a few weeks ago that he had to change up their forechecking strategy about 8 games into the season due to the lack of the types of players he needs in order to play an aggressive up-tempo style. Hence, the one lone forechecker and four players clogging up the neutral zone.

Hmmm, that's interesting. Well, their loss. I checked his statistics and he's got 18 points. You gotta think he and Jake Randolph have to be in the conversation for NCHC rookie of the year along with Danton Heinen from DU.

I saw Omaha this past weekend in the Springs. Man, Avery Peterson is good! How in the world did Omaha win the recruiting battle for this former Mr. Hockey Minnesota over the Gophers??? Did Lucia not recruit him or something???

Haviland said during a post game interview a few weeks back that after initially trying a more aggressive forechecking scheme at the beginning of the season, he's made some adjustments after recognizing that they don't quite have the speed or defensive tools yet to continue such approach. So about midway through the first half, they started playing a more defensive approach in the O zone (my guess is, they're trapping more in the neutral zone and not sending both forwards and the center man in deep as often).

I was at both games and I can tell you that this is a much-improved CC team compared to what we saw in October. In the post-game after being swept at Providence, coach Haviland said he was proud of his team's compete level and went on to say that an NHL scout came up to him and said that CC is night and day better than what he saw several weeks back when the Tigers played BC and UNH. I don't think CC has the skill or depth to beat UND but I hope CC's Friday night win against Omaha as well as pushing a hot Western Michigan team to OT both nights about a month ago-on the road-has gotten their attention. Cody Bradley and Jaccob Slavin are two guys to keep an eye on. Slavin's been fun to watch and unfortunately for CC fans, he'll probably go pro after his sophomore season. Interesting note: CC freshman goalie Chase Perry has been platooning with Tyler Marble this season. Perry's dad was a goalie with the Sioux back in the day.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7juq4MU4YR4

Ahhh, thanks MafiaNan! I knew I could count on you for a witty retort!!!

Can I have my brief moment of glory?!?! We just won our first conference game!

CC beats the first place team, 4-3.

Typical Dean Blais fashion he pulls the goalie with four minutes to play, down two and Omaha scores. 4-3 now.

4-2, CC. Six minutes left and on the PP.

BTW, congrats to Minnesota State-Mankato for being #1 in the USCHO poll for the first time in the program's history. Very cool!

I have a long list of things I don't care for regarding Lucia but being considered for termination is not one of them. His body of work and accomplishments as an NCAA coach is almost second to none. I suppose Gopher fans have short memories and those back-to-back titles seem like ancient history but I guess my question to those who wish to fire him would be, who do you have in mind who can do better?

You're entitled to your opinion that it wasn't a sell job just like others are entitled to their opinion that it was. If you read my original comment, I said that the 5 was the right call but I didn't like the embellishment after the play.

Are the refs in the Dartmouth/UNH game wearing pink sweaters?

Is anyone watching the St. Cloud/Miami game? There appears to be several empty seats. I know St. Cloud is struggling record-wise but I'm surprised to see that many empty seats.

Good call, just didn't like the sell job by Rau.

And there's some justice...Michigan ties it up.

I bet you say it just like the guy on Inglorious Basterds!

What bugs me about that play wasn't necessarily the Wolverine player getting a 5 minute major but how Rau sold it and seemingly acted hurt but miraculously was able to be right back out there on the PP.

Rau?

What about the Go Go's?

I don't like the Russians but I gotta too my cap to them. They have proven that it isn't over until it's over. They easily could've rolled over and died but they battled until the very end. Just came up 1 goal short. I'll remember their effort the next time UND is losing a game but still have time to claw back. The Russians really impressed me tonight.

Yah. What's up with that? They interviewed the President of the IIHF at intermission and apparently they are not happy with how Montreal has hosted this year's tournament. They've been happy with Toronto but not so with Montreal (Details as to why not given during interview).

Touché. Well-played!